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A Time of Transition: Aliyah bet, Fall 1944 305
ditions continued to grow less benign for the rescue mission, particularly once
the WRB representative left Constantinople. (Indeed, Hirschmann no longer
saw the need for illegal immigration, since the Balkan countries had been
liberated.) The instructions from Palestine were to continue as before, to
seek continued Turkish cooperation, but to prepare the boats for a Mediterranean
crossing just in case: in other words, "aliyah by any means." 42
By December 1944, the Palestine Zionists were interested in a return to
the methods of 1939, though on a grander scale and with better support. A
struggle for free aliyah was the policy of the Agency, the Histadrut, and the
Mossad. This meant not only a political struggle as such, but the physical
organization of aliyah operations through a joint mobilization of the immigrants
themselves and the Jewish public in Palestine. Aliyah bet became a
factor of consensus and unity among Zionists. The total immigration figure
for the period from October to December was slim, however. Only 3,317
certificates were utilized—less than the legally allowable 1,500 per month.
About half the total figure was represented by the Salah-a-Din and Taurus
groups. The supporters of aliyah bet claimed that, with the proper backing,
it could be the most effective means of bringing Jews into the country. But
Agami complained in December and January of insufficient funds and of a
cutback in the amount of credit available to him, the result of his failure to
repay debts. 43
The first months of 1945 were extremely cold in Rumania, and basic
necessities were scarcer than ever. Widespread starvation threatened the population.
Meanwhile, refugees crossing into Rumania from Hungary and Poland
related details of anti-Semitic violence being committed against Jewish
survivors attempting to return to their former homes. They appealed to Agami
and Zimend to become involved in bricha: helping Jews to escape from
Eastern Europe. 44 Agami agreed, believing that the growth of the Jewish
refugee population in Rumania would create greater pressure on the authorities.
He demanded greater funding from Palestine, as well as the assignment
of new emissaries to help him handle the expanding Rumanian
operation.
In spite of all his efforts, however, Agami could not overcome the mounting
difficulties: confiscation of boats, denial of permission to dock, new fees
demanded for the use of dry-dock facilities, orders forbidding the registration
of immigration applicants, and more. There was little doubt that Soviet opposition
lay behind all of this. 45 As the bricha turned from a trickle to a
stream, it was decided to direct the refugees toward Yugoslavia and Italy.
The Stara-Zagora Affair
The rescue mission sought to renew overland routes via Bulgaria to Turkey,
and finally by rail to Palestine. Two groups of children had used this route
in January and March 1943. During 1944, nine families a week took this route,
as did other families and individuals who obtained travel documents by various